Page 4 of The Clover Chapel (Jamison Valley 2)
“What are you studying?” he asked.
“Marketing and public relations.”
“That’s what you want to do?”
Taking a deep breath, I told him something that only Steffie knew. “No. But my father is expecting me to go work for his political fundraising company. I hate it, actually. It feels like I’m learning how to be fake and talk people out of their money. I always wanted to be a teacher. I really love kids, but that just isn’t a possibility for me.”
“Life’s short, Emmy. Do what makes you happy.”
My father’s acceptance would make me happy and the only way I’d get it was by obeying his wishes.
Not wanting to dive into that depressing topic, I changed the subject. “What about you, Nick? Do you do something that makes you happy?”
His body tensed and he took a moment before answering. “Kind of.” His tone was final and there would be no further explanation.
The rest of our walk to the casino was in silence, but Nick never once let go of my hand. The more we walked, the firmer his grip became, and by the time we sat down at a blackjack table, both of us had shrugged off our moods and were back to smiling and laughing. Three hundred dollars later, I had a vague sense of the rules and could add “very, very bad at blackjack” to my resume.
Gambling turned into more drinking and then more strolling along the strip. We came to a stop in front of Treasure Island, where Nick and I watched renegade pirates battle each other amidst pyrotechnic explosions.
Standing in the middle of the crowd, Nick wrapped both his arms around me, pulling me securely into his chest. My hands held onto his muscled forearms. Even though we’d shared a kiss, this felt more intimate. It wasn’t as electric as when our lips had touched, but with our bodies resting against each other, I felt a connection to Nick I never wanted to cut.
We fit together perfectly. His big body cradled my small frame, like his arms were made to be wrapped around me and only me.
My cheeks ached from smiling. Nick had made me laugh more in one night than I could remember doing in years. Maybe ever.
And we still had the rest of the night together.
The thought gave me butterflies. For once, I didn’t have to act a certain way or behave according to my family’s set standards. I could just have a good time with the handsome man standing behind me. No rules. No stress. No expectations.
Being with Nick made me feel free. His confidence and easy grace were contagious. I could just be myself. Do whatever I wanted. Say whatever I wanted. This Emmeline was relaxed. Happy.
“Let’s get married,” Nick whispered into my ear.
“What?” I gasped, turning to look up at him with wide eyes. Where had that come from?
“Let’s get married. You said you wanted crazy. Nothing is crazier than two people who just met getting hitched in Las Vegas.”
“We can’t get married!”
His vibrant eyes gleamed as his mouth formed a smug, crooked grin. “I dare you.”
“You don’t need to buy me that ring. It’s too much money,” I said.
I turned my eyes to the jewelry. Sitting on a velvet cloth was a two-carat diamond. A ring of smaller diamonds haloed it, and an array of smaller, rectangular diamonds shot out from the sides like sunbeams. The edging formed a Gatsby hexagon set in rose gold.
It was exquisite.
It was expensive. Too expensive.
I didn’t know about Nick’s financial situation and would never put him in a position to overspend.
“Too much money?” he parroted. “Says the girl staying in the Bellagio penthouse suite who rides around in a private limo and just dropped five grand on a hunk of metal for me.”
“I don’t need anything fancy, Nick.”
Framing my jaw with his large hands, he leaned down and kissed the tip of my nose. “Buying you the ring that makes your face light up like the sun is something I want to do. I’d do just about anything to see that look on your face every day. I’m not broke, Emmy. I can buy that ring. But even if I was poor, I’d find a way to get it.”
Wow, that felt good.
